Symptomatic - Chapter 17: Attention difficulties: The relationship between Ehlers-Danlos syndromes/hypermobility spectrum disorders and attention difficulties, “brain fog,” and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that is widely understood to be a consequence of neurotransmitter dysfunction in certain regions/pathways in the brain. However, emerging associations with ADHD suggest that the pathophysiology may be more systemic. ADHD has been found to cluster together with other physical and mental health problems, and intriguing associations have been established between ADHD and hypermobility syndromes, dysautonomia, and pain. This chapter considers these associations and proposes potential new targets for treatment, adapting management to address autonomic dysfunction and neuroinflammation, as well as neurotransmitter dysfunction.